Cradle lock for gun carriages



March 1 1927.

H. C. ZIMMERMAN CRADLE LOCK FORGUN CARRIAGES Filed Aug. 25, 1924 H arrH Glimmerman attorneq Patented ar. 1, 1927.

TNT 0m CRADLE LOCK FOR GUN GARBTAGES.

Application filed August 25, 1924'. Serial No. 734,060.

(GRANTED "UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883; 22 STAT. I. 625.) s

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, orany of its officers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment to me of any royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 3, 1883.

The subject of this invention is a cradle lock for gun carriages. 7

When mobile gun carriages are swung to their limbers for traveling the gun is retracted on its cradle to relieve the carriage of its unbalanced weight.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for locking the carriage in traveling position which also serves as an auxiliary support for the cradle and which will assist in taking up lost motion in the assembled parts about the pintle to prevent excessive wear on the traversing and elevating mechanisms.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a gun carriage and cradle, showing the position of the cradle lock;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the cradle lock;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the plunger; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the bolt.

Referring to the drawings by numerals and characters of reference:

The gun carriage includes the usual axle A which supports the trails B, pintle C, and shield frame D. The pintle C supports the top carriage E, on which is trunnioned the cradle F, which mounts the usual reciprocal gun barrel G.

The cradle lock includes a tripodal suport having a center leg 10 and outer legs 1111, all of which are pivotally mounted on a common plane to the shield frame D.

The center leg 10 is a rod having an apere tured base 12 receivable into a channel bracket 13 of the frame D and pivotally supnorted by'means of a. pin 14. The opposite extremity of the rod is formed with a trans for direct connection to the shaft 20, the

rods 18 being provided. to facilitate repair in the event of breakage. Y i I The upstanding ears 16 on'the tripod head are adapted to receive a lug 22 on the cradle F, the coupling beingmaintained by; a bolt 23 passing through apertures in the ears and lug. The bolt 23 is held against disengagement by means of a spring actuated plunger 2% mounted on the head and adapted to enter a circular recess 25 in the bolt 23 when the bolt is fully home. The recess 25 is positioned at one end of a longitudinal slot 26 which terminates in a blind end 27 so that in withdrawing, the bolt the plunger on being extracted from the recess 25 will ride in the slot 26 until brought up mg rods 18 which are coupled to the bifurat the blind end 27 thus preventing the bolt from being completely withdrawn and possibly lost. "Conversely, when the bolt is inserted the plunger will be guided by the slot 26 into the recess 25 so that the bolt will be automatically locked in place.

The tripodal support on being unlocked from the cradle may be swung downwardly where it will not interfere with the operation of the gun.

If desired, the free ends of the legs may be constructed to individuallycooperate with the cradle lug, the coupling bolt passing through apertured terminals of the legs.

While in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention,

it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim: 1.. A cradle lock for gun carriages including a tripodal support, the outer legs being tubular and universally mounted on the carriage and the center leg pivotally -mounted thereon, an apertured lug on the cradle, said center lo formed with a head having upstanding apertured ears adapted to receive the cradle lug therebetween and inclined arms for securing the outer legs to the head, a coupling bolt for connecting the cradle lug and head, said bolt formed with a longitudinal blind slot terininatingat one end in a circular recess, and a plunger mounted in the head and engageable in the slot to hold the bolt in locked position and to normally prevent complete withdrawal of the bolt when in unlocked position. I

'2. A cradle lock for gun carriages including a tripodal support pivotally mounted on the carriage, a head formed on one of the legs of the support, the remaining legs being secured to the head, an apertured lug on the cradle, a belt for coupling the head and cradle lug, sa-i'd bolt formed with a longitudinal blind slot terminating at one end in a circular recess, and a plunger mounted in the head and engageable in' the slot for holding the bolt in either locked or unlocked position.

ing a tripodal support, the center leg pivotally mounte'cl'on the carriage "and formed 3. A cradle lock for gun carriages includ' with a head having inclined arms, the outer legs being tubular and secured to said arms, a connecting rod secured to each of said outer legs, a rotatable shaft mounted on the carriage and pivotally supporting the connecting rods, a lug on the cradle, and means for coupling the head to the cradle lug.

4. A cradle lock for gun carriages including a 'tripodal swinging support, means for mounting said support to the carriage, a tripod head formed with upstanding apertured ears, an apertured lug on the cradle, a coupling bolt insertable through the-ears and lug, said bolt formed with a longitudinal blind slot terminating at one end in a circular recess, and a plunger mounted in the head and engageable in the slot for holding the bolt in either locked or unlocked position.

5. A cradle lock for gun carriages including a tripodal swinging support,1neans for mounting said support to the carriage, a tripod head formed with upstanding apertured ears, an apertured lug on said cradle, a coupling bolt insertable through the ears and lug, andmeans mounted in the head and cooperating with the bolt for holding the boltin either locked or unlocked position.

HARRY C. ZIMMERMAN, 

